Archive for February 2012

الدنيا دار من لا دار له، ومال من لا مال له، ولها يجمع من لا عقل له

It is reported that ‘Abdullāh b. Mas’ūd (رضي الله عنه) said:

This world (the dunyā) is [only taken as] a home by those who will have no real home [in Jannah], and it is the wealth of those who will have no real wealth, and it is gathered and collected for by those who have no real intelligence.

ibn A‘bud said, “‘Alī (رضي الله عنه) , may Allah be pleased with him, said to me, ‘Shall I not tell you about myself and Fāṭimah (رضي الله عنها) , the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), who was the most beloved of his family to him?’ ‘Certainly,’ I replied.

He (رضي الله عنه) said, ‘Indeed, she used the hand mill to the extent that it left marks on her hands, she drew water with a waterskin to the extent that it left marks on the upper part of her chest, and she swept the house to the extent that her clothes became dust-coloured. Then some servants came in to the possession of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), so I said, “If only you would go to your father and ask him for a servant.” She went to him but found him busy speaking with some men, so she returned.

He then came to her the following day and enquired, “What is it that you need?” She kept quiet, so I spoke up, “I will tell you, O Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). She used the hand mill to the extent that it left it marks on her hands and she carried the waterskin to the extent that it left marks on the upper part of her chest. So when some servants came in to your possession, I commanded her to go to you and ask you for a servant who would protect her from [having to do] the difficult work she is doing.”

He said, “Be mindful of Allah, O Fāṭimah (رضي الله عنها) , carry out the duties of your Lord, and work in the service of your family. Then when you lie down to sleep, say ‘Subḥānallah’ thirty-three times, ‘Alḥamdulillāh’ thirty-three times and ‘Allāhu akbar’ thirty-four times – and that makes one hundred – for that is better for you than a servant.” She responded, “I am pleased with Allah ‘azza wa jall and with His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم).”’”

‘Alī (رضي الله عنه) said, “Fāṭimah (رضي الله عنها) complained to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) about the marks left on her hands from her using the hand mill. A slave then came in to the possession of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). So she went to him to ask him [for a servant], but did not see him. She then informed ‘Ā’ishah (رضي الله عنها) about why she had come and when the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) arrived, ‘Ā’ishah (رضي الله عنها) related to him what had happened.

He then came to us while we had already lain down to sleep. We began to stand up, but he told us, ‘[Stay] on your places.’ He then came and sat between us until I felt the coldness of his feet on my chest. He said, ‘Shall I not guide you two to that which is better than what you asked for? When you lie down to sleep, say ‘Subḥānallah’ thirty-three times, ‘Alḥamdulillāh’ thirty-three times and ‘Allāhu akbar’ thirty-four times, for that is better for you than a servant.’”

Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “O Abu Dhar! You will be with the one whom you love.” Abu Dhar (رضي الله عنه) replied: “Verily I love Allah and His Messenger.” Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “You will be with the one whom you love, O Abu Dhar!”

“Are you having menses?” The man replied: “O Ameerul-Mu’mineen, does a man have menses?” He said, “Yes, if you hang your ‘Izaar down – because ‘Isbaal (wearing garments below the ankles) is only for the women.” Kharshah (the narrator) then said:

“So ‘Umar came with blade or scissors and cut what trailed from the ankles.” Kharshah then said: “It is as if I’m seeing the threads of the ‘Izaar hanging from his ankles (right now).” [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, 8/393]

… those of you who live long among you after me will see great disagreement. You must then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs. Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error.

Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud (رضي الله عنه) said, “Allah curses women who practice tattooing and those who get themselves tattooed, and the women who remove the hair from their eyebrows and faces and those who make artificial spaces between their teeth in order to look more beautiful, whereby changing Allah’s creation.” His statement reached a woman from Bani Asad called, Umm Ya`qub (رضي الله عنها), who came to `Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) and said, “I have come to know that you have cursed such and such” He replied, “Why should I not curse those whom Allah’s Messenger has cursed and who are cursed in Allah’s Book!” Umm Ya`qub said, “I have read the whole Qur’an, but did not find in it what you say.” He said, “Verily, if you have read the Qur’an, you have found it. Didn’t you read,

(And whatsoever the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) gives you take it and whatsoever he forbids you, you abstain (from it).)”

She replied, “Yes, I did.” He said, “Verily, Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade such things. ” “She said, “But I think that your wife does these things” He said, “Go and look at her.” She went and watched her, but could not see anything in support of her claim. She went back to `Abdullah bin Mas`ud (رضي الله عنه) and said that she did not notice anything on his wife. On that he said, “If my wife was as you thought, I would not keep her with me.”